LawNewz.com has learned that First Lady Melania Trump has agreed to settle her defamation lawsuit filed against a Maryland blogger who published an article accusing her of being a high-end escort. The blogger has agreed to pay Trump a “substantial sum,” according to a statement from Melania’s attorney, Charles Harder. The blogger, Webster Tarpley, also agreed to issue an additional apology for the posts.

On Tuesday, Tarpley issued this statement:

“I posted an article on August 2, 2016 about Melania Trump that was replete with false and defamatory statements about her. I had no legitimate factual basis to make these false statements and I fully retract them. I acknowledge that these false statements were very harmful and hurtful to Mrs. Trump and her family, and therefore I sincerely apologize to Mrs. Trump, her son, her husband and her parents for making these false statements.”

The Trumps obviously don’t need the money from this settlement, but it’s going to send a powerful message to other smear merchants on the internet. Tell vicious lies and there will be a price to pay.